System for analyzing and treating abnormality of human and animal tissues

ABSTRACT

A patient treatment unit for analyzing and treating abnormality of human or animal tissues, includes a display; a pulse generator circuit that outputs a sequence of electrical pulses at a pulse frequency, the electrical pulses having a pulse width, the pulse generator controlling the pulse frequency and the pulse width of the electrical pulses; a pair of probes for contacting a body of a patient and electrically coupled to the pulse generator; and a voltage and current sensing circuit that senses a voltage or a current via the probes when contacting the body of the patient.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/690,752, filed Nov. 30, 2012, now allowed, which is a continuation ofU.S. application Ser. No. 13/269,017, filed Oct. 7, 2011, (now U.S. Pat.No. 8,326,398), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/456,657, filed Jun. 19, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,064,988), which isa continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/856,632, filed May 28,2004, (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,801,585), which claims the benefit under 35USC 119(e) of the provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/474,843,filed Jun. 2, 2003. All prior applications above are hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Area of Invention

The present invention relates to electromedicine and, more particularly,to the application of a magnetic field to tissue and the subsequentmeasurement of electron spin and paramagnetic resonance properties ofthe tissue to ascertain and treat abnormalities associated therewith andwith specific disease states.

B. Prior Art

The value and application of electron magnetic resonance (EMR) inbiomedicine has been recognized, given its similarity, at least inprinciple, to proton magnetic resonance (often termed nuclear magneticresonance or NMR). However, the field and frequency conditions underwhich an EMR signal is seen are different. In proton MRI, one of mostcommon forms of NMR, the DC field may be on the order of 20,000 gauss (2Tesla) at a radio frequency of about 85 MHz. In new high resolution NMR,the field strength may be increased to 12 Tesla at a microwave frequencyof about 500 MHz. In distinction, the field associated with an EMR fieldmay be as low as a fraction of a Tesla and under 1 GHz. Theseconditions, which historically related to different instrumentation,more importantly have lead to the realization that EMR techniques can beseveral orders of magnitude more sensitive than NMR, given that theelectron magnetic moment is approximately 650 times stronger than thatof the proton, even though the mass of the electron is far less thanthat of a proton, as above noted, is obtainable at field strengths andfrequencies that are far less intrusive and, thereby, less hazardousthan those associated with NMR. Because of these actors, the primaryhistoric use of the NMR has been in association with analysis, imaging,and diagnosis of a wide variety of tissue related traditions, while NMRfound little application in the treatment of tissue abnormalities ordisorders.

EMR was discovered in 1925 by Goudsmit and Uhlenbeck. Thereafter itspractical application was primarily in EMR spectrometers and, throughthe present, is used primarily in such applications. See for exampleU.S. Pat. No. 6,335,625 (2002) to Bryant et al.

EMR, sometimes termed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), has becomea generic name given to the magnetic behavior of the electron whenimmersed in an external magnetic field. In EMR, the electron exhibitstwo key properties, namely, its magnetic field and a gyroscopicbehavior. Therein, its electric field plays no part. Its magnetic fieldis often termed its dipole moment while its gyroscopic behavior iscalled its gyroscopic moment.

The greater the time domain differences between the magnetic componentsof an electromagnetic wave of a tissue, the greater will be the phasedifferences between the components and, thereby, the greater the energyloss or gain. As such, measurement of differences in phase between bothmagnetic moments of the electron have developed as a means ofrecognizing differences of properties between respective materialssubject to an EM wave of typically of dipole and gyroscopic momentinducing strength. This phase change and energy loss or gain relatesexponentially to cellular and tissue function.

From the perspective of quantum mechanics, the electron, while shiftingpositions within a permissible set of patterns relative to the atomicnucleus, generates specific energy emissions or spectra, i.e., EMR bybody tissues and physiological structures. Such patterns have been foundto comprise unique tissue signatures and, as such, a product of theindividual atomic, molecular and cellular quantum movements whichcharacterize the given tissue, organ or physiological structure ofinterest. Thereby, from my perspective of biophysics, the initial stepin pathology emanating from a dysfunctional, damaged or diseased tissueis considered a misfunction of the EMR of the normal electron cloudassociated with such tissue. EMR disorders thereby predisposebiochemical and bioelectrical alterations reflected in each unique EMRsignature of the tissue or structure of interest. When a disorder ofmeasurable EMR occurs, the resonance and configuration of the normalelectron cloud at the atomic level exhibit phase shifts which break anddisturbs the otherwise orderly pathways of communication from atom tomolecule, molecule to cell, cell to tissue, and tissue to organ. Thisresults in breakdown in molecular and cellular communication one endresult for example being a reduction in tissue conductivity.

For the inventive electron magnetic resonance analyzer and treatmentsystem to function, the system sends or receives information to and fromthe body, the body's cellular network or in some cases, the centralnervous system, that is, its pain processing center. This pathway allowsthe EMR of the inventive system to record and analyze any phase-shiftedEMR patterns emanating by and from the body's tissues and structures.

In case of assessing and treating pain, the inventive system alsoemploys inductors and applicators at the site of pain, tissueabnormality and/or upon selected nervous system trigger or motor points(which can also comprise of acupuncture or pressure points). Asynthesized EMR pattern is transmitted into the tissue which encountersthe inherent resonance pattern produced by the tissue or subject matterunder study. The information generated by this initial step of theanalysis process is returned to the system where, after removal ofimpedance static in the signal it is analyzed, digitized and, ifdesired, compared to predetermined EMR patterns associated with suchnormal tissue. Thereby, the recorded data is assessed and evaluated forirregulates or abnormalities. The inherent EMR signatures of normalatoms, molecules, tissues and structures may thereby be employed as“standards” in the digitizing of values based on recorded and peakresonance emissions of healthy, non-diseased, non-damaged tissues. Whensuch a first phase of the EMR pattern measurement and assessment iscomplete, the system has detected any disorder or shifting of EMR peaksat the pain site under study, if a phase shifts exists.

A second aspect of operation of the inventive system is that of itstherapeutic action. If an EMR phase shift of the targeted tissue ororgan is detected in the first aspect of analysis, the shift can becorrected through the application of a counter or neutralizing EMRwhich, as set forth below, is calculated and computed by the system,thereby resulting in a neurotransmitter function which is regulated byadministration of a counter EMR pattern. It has been found that uponrealignment of the phase shifted EMR pattern, reduction and alleviationof pain occur instantaneously, healing time is reduced and, uponsuitable repetition of therapy, result in long term improvement of theabnormality of interest.

Pain is reduced or eliminated by means of effect on nociceptive afferentneurons which are sensitive to magnetic as well as a variety of noxiousstimuli including thermal, mechanical, and chemical. Excitation ofnociceptive neurons induce a field gradient into magnetic sensitive ionchannels, particularly sodium, calcium and potassium channels. Nerveterminal membranes are magnetically encoded through the activation ofinward depolarizing membrane currents or activation of outward currents.The main channels responsible for inward membrane currents are thevoltage activated sodium and calcium channels.

It is known that an ionic gradient exists across the plasma membrane ofvirtually all human and animal cells. In particular, the concentrationof potassium ions inside the cell is about ten times that in theextracellular fluid. Also sodium ions are present in much higherconcentrations outside a cell than inside. As such, the potassium andsodium channels play an important role in membrane excitation and,thereby, in determining the intensity of pain. Sodium channels are nowconsidered a destabilizing membrane in the pain process. These channels,which can open rapidly and transiently when the membrane is depolarizedbeyond about minus 40 mV, are essential for action of most neurons,potential generation, and conduction. These open channels are alsobelieved to be responsible for the neuron action leading to pain. Sodiumis also an alkali element (with an atomic number of 11) and isparamagnetic. That is, when placed in a magnetic field, a paramagneticsubstance becomes magnetized parallel to the field. It is believed thata magnetic interaction thereby occurs between sodium channels and theEMR patterns and peaks discussed above. EMR affects sodium which in turnaffects the excitability of nociceptive neurons which are chemicallydistinct from most other neurons

It has been found that EMR fields which consist of an EM carrier of arange of about 1 Hz to about 1 GHz, when modulated by EMR patterns in arange of about 0.1 gauss to about 4 Tesla, provide a regulating effectupon sodium channels, this leading to pain reduction.

Tests have also indicated that EMR fields alter the pH level of water,which relates to another theory of the pain reduction associated withthe present system. That is, it has been shown that the pH ofextra-cellular fluid is associated with a number of patho-physiologicalconditions such as hypoxia/anoxia and inflammation. It has been reportedthat the pH of synovial fluid from enflamed joints is significantly moreacid than is that of normal joints. As such, low pH solutions evoke aprolonged activation of sensory nerves and produce a sharp stingingpain. Consequently, when pH of tissue is changed, pain reduction isoften achieved.

Successful treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, neuropathy,categories of joint and tissue injury, wound healing, calcifictendonitis, and various types of migraine headaches has beendemonstrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A patient treatment unit for analyzing and treating abnormality of humanor animal tissues, includes a display; a pulse generator circuit thatoutputs a sequence of electrical pulses at a pulse frequency, theelectrical pulses having a pulse width, the pulse generator controllingthe pulse frequency and the pulse width of the electrical pulses; a pairof probes for contacting a body of a patient and electrically coupled tothe pulse generator; and a voltage and current sensing circuit thatsenses a voltage or a current via the probes when contacting the body ofthe patient.

It is an object of the present invention to employ principles ofelectron magnetic resonance (EMR) for the analysis and relief of painand correction of abnormalities of human tissue.

It is another object to provide a system to analyze and digitize normalEMR patterns of specific tissues.

It is further object of the invention to correct abnormal EMR patternsby applying a countervailing or neutralizing EMR field spectra utilizinginductive sensors and applicators to apply EMR patterns of an intensityfrom about 0.1 gauss to about 4 Tesla.

It is further object to measure and analyze EMR out-of-phase peakresonances associated with abnormal tissue function, chronic pain, andtraumatic injuries of soft tissue.

It is further object to provide a system of the above type in whichuseful EMR pattern information is measured at a trigger point, at ornear a tissue dysfunction or pain site, and a counter resonance patternis applied to said site to realign phase shifted resonance patternsassociated with the electron of cells affection by an abnormal or paincondition.

It is further object to provide a system of the above type which can bereadily interfaced with existing electromedical technologies including,without limitation, CT Scan, MRI, stereotactic imaging, and PETscanning. The advantage of this interface is the ability to visually“light up” an anatomical area with phase shift activity. By using analgorithm to monitor the amplitude of the signal and the degree ofelectromagnetic flux variation, various colors can be assigned to thisphenomenon indicating antiphase or phase shifted areas. i.e., red beinga reactive area and blue being a normal area. This information can thenoverlay a two or three dimensional diagnostic image, visuallypinpointing an antiphase or phase shifted anatomical area. The advantageof this is being able to visualize functional variations andabnormalities as well as gross anatomical abnormalities. Anotheriteration of the technology is the attachment of an LCD screen to theback of a hand held wireless induction coil. Anatomical areas of thebody can be scanned while watching for color changes on the attached LCDwhen a phase shift area is detected.

The above and other objects in advantage of the present invention willbecome apparent from the hereinafter set forth. Brief Description of theDrawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims appendedherewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic hardware and softwarefunctions of the inventive system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a patient treatment unit (“PTU”) andassociated diagnostic unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram view of a functional management unit (“FMU”).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram view of the local controller and system customsoftware operating upon a PC platform to control the PTU and manage apatientlist. Also shown is a radio interface unit between the PC and thePTU.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram view of a tissue measurement module.

FIGS. 5A-5D show impedance, power and frequency relationships for thePTU.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram view of a communication module.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram view of the PTU inclusive of the PC radiointerface and local controls of the PTU.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram view of the stimuli module.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are a respective signal and resonance peak waveforms of ahealthy tissue.

FIGS. 11 and 12 are respective signal and spectrum waveforms of anabnormal tissue.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are respective signal and EMR peak for spectra diagramsshowing the treatment wave superimposed upon the waveform to be treated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the general block diagram view of FIG. 1, my inventivesystem for analyzing and treating abnormality of human and animaltissues may be seen to include a functional management unit (“FMU”) 100which supervises functions of a communication module 102, a stimulimodule 104, and a measurement module 106.

As may be noted in FIG. 2, the primary hardware of the inventive systemis associated with a patient treatment unit (“PTU”) 108 which includessaid measurement module 106 and stimuli module 104. The stimuli modulefunctions through probes or induction coils 110/111 thru which theinitial data required by measurement module 106 is captured. In FIG. 2may also been seen the physical relationship between a PC 112 and adiagnostic unit 114 which includes said communication module 102.Diagnostic unit 114 and PC 112 comprise integral components of said FMU100. Further shown in FIG. 2 are pads 116 which facilitate treatment ofpatient 118 by an operator 120. Line 122 represents a human and animalinterface between patient 118 and operator 120 while line 124 representsa radio interface means between the PC and diagnostic unit, 114 on theone hand, and the PTU 108 on the other. Structural and parametricheuristic control of diagnostic unit 114 and PTU 108 are indicated byline 126 of FIG. 2.

The electrical output specifications of PTU 108 are as follows:

Power Supply 115 VAC, 60 Hz Maximum Power Consumption 21 W Outputvoltage Range of normal use: 50-60 V Peak pulse amplitude: 120 V PulseRate 1-490 Pulses/second, ±6% Pulse Duration 0.34-0.74 millisecondOutput Current (maximum) 8.9 milliamps Maximum charge per pulse 7 microcoulombs Wave Form Complex pulse trains: variable frequen- cy, variablepulse width, AC-coupled rectangular pulse

In FIG. 3 is shown FMU 100, inclusive of stimuli-measurement timingcontrol means 128, radio interface control 130, local handle treatmentcontrol inputs 132 which are associated with said pads 116, a PTUdisplay management facility 134 associated with said diagnostic unit114, and a battery status monitor 136.

In FIG. 4 is schematically shown the use of custom software running uponsaid PC 112 to control the PTU 108 and manage a patient list. Said PC isconnected to a PTU 108 through said radio interface 124.

In FIG. 5 is shown measurement module 106 which includes means 138 formeasurements of the surface impedance of a treated tissue and means 140for measurement of the impedance of the tissue to be treated.

Output waveforms of PTU 108, showing various impedance, power, andfrequency relationships are shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. More particularly,FIG. 5A indicates a 1 M-Ohm maximum impedance, in which the outputwaveform varies depending on the load as shown in FIGS. 5B-5D. That is,FIG. 5B shows voltage versus time at 500 ohms. FIG. 5C shows voltageversus time at 5000 ohms, and FIG. 5D shows voltage versus time at10,000 ohms. Therein, changes in load affect both pulse duration andmaximum pulse frequency. Maximum pulse frequency lies in a range of490±6% from 500 ohms to 1,000,000 ohms. Lower impedances have lowermaximum pulse rates. Pulse width is fixed at a given impedance, anddeclines from 0.74 milliseconds at 500 ohms to 0.34 milliseconds at1,000,000 ohms.

In FIG. 6 is shown communication module 102 and its important internalfunctions which include subsystem 142 which indicates the receipt andresending of error check stimuli information from a local controller(LC) which includes battery status information 144 and electrode orinduction coil status information 146. Communication module 102 alsoincludes subsystem 148 which sends, receives and error checksmeasurements of both surface and tissue as above described withreference to FIG. 5. Therein the skin-electrode or induction coil andtissue electrode or induction coil impedance is continually monitored atthe LC in visual and/or audio terms to thereby enable the medicaltechnician to adjust the pressure of the electrodes or the medium (suchas electro-jelly) used between the electrode and the treated tissue.

In FIG. 7 are shown the primary constituent subsystems of the PTU 108,these including a microcontroller 149 having a said local treatmentcontrols 132, said display 134, status LEDs 135, a memory 150 used forpurposes of recording data, and a DC to DC converter 152. As may benoted, the output of converter 152 feeds into pulse generator and levelshifting means 154 which include current and voltage limiting means. Theoutput of said means 154 is provided to means 156 for the simultaneoussensing of voltage and current associated with skin and tissuemeasurements. The output thereof is provided to said microcontroller 149which operates with PC 112 through radio interface unit 124. The PTU 108also includes a battery pack 158 and its charger 160.

Inputs to probes or induction coils 110 and 111 are provided throughsaid dual voltage and current sensing means 156. It is noted that thereare two areas in which magnetic resonance fluxuation is measured. Thefirst is through an induction coil and the second is through thetreatment measurement probes. The more phase shift (disorder orelectrons loss of energy etc) the lower the measured amplitude and thegreater the electromagnetic fluxuation.

In FIG. 8 is shown stimuli module 104 and, more particularly, overvoltage and over-current software monitoring means 162, associatedelectrode or induction coil monitoring means 164, and associated RImeans 166 for processing data received from radio interface unit 124,and means 168 for processing data from local treatment controls 132.

It is to be appreciated that electrodes associated with probes 110/111and pad 116, that is two electrodes connected via wire, one of whichelectrodes is provide with a linear potentiometer are used to adjust orselect the intensity of the energy provided to the treated tissue. Anumber of safety features are incorporated into the instant systemincluding visual and/or audio warning means, amplitude limit means (perblock 156), amplitude override means, amplitude ramp back means, andpatient control means. Therein data transmitted from functionalmanagement unit 100 to the PTU 108 includes stimuli frequency, stimuliduty cycle, and patient pain threshold information (based upon patienthistory) to thereby optimize PTU-side intensity settings. Datatransmitted between the PTU and FMU include skin voltage,electromagnetic fluxuation and current (see FIG. 5), phase between skinand voltage current, tissue voltage and current, phase between tissuevoltage, electromagnetic fluxuation and current, and stimulus on/offstatus (see FIG. 3).

Importantly, the local controller (see FIG. 4) of the present EMR systememploys various algorithms.

Perhaps most importantly, the LC of the EMR system employs variousalgorithms, starting with a so called inverse wave form of the injurytissue as a first order basis of treatment, this to be followed byrobust stochastic models to generate appropriate stimuli profiles toenable the FMU 100 to provide a sophisticated treatment or correctionsignal. Therein at least three models or algorithms are contemplated,these including the following:

-   -   sequential, adaptive self-learning method and implementation        (for a single electrode pair);    -   block adaptive self-learning method and implementation (for an        electrode array);    -   one and multi dimensional neural network-based controller        algorithms;    -   sequential data autoregressive method and implementation (for a        single electrode pair); and    -   block data autoregressive method and implementation (for an        electrode array)

In addition, the filtering of the measurement module of the FMUeliminates error signals which typically appear as waveform ripples, tothereby enable generation of a correction or treatment signal from aself-learning multi-electrode PTU, thereby having enhanced efficacy inthe cancellation of pain and, ultimately, long term treatment of thecondition of interest.

Combinations of algorithms may be employed to generate interchannelwaveform correlations to ensure convergence of the model analysis andpromotion of its learning curve for the modeling of the tissue injury,treatment profiles and peak resonances associated therewith.

In summary, the technology employ a frequency of 1 Hertz to 1 G hertz,and low gauss (0.1 to 4 Tesla) in treatment signals to increase,decrease, flatten or nullify out of phase resonance peaks of a measuredwaveform of the tissue to be treated. Similarly, the correction ortreatment signal which is applied to treat the abnormal tissue signalobtained by the measurement module is intelligently developed by aself-learning multi-electrode PTU in which various heuristic algorithmsare used to ensure convergence and efficient development of modelsnecessary to optimize tissue profile, peak resonance codes, and the useof this information for effective therapy in an array of medicalconditions.

This technology also enables treatment of conditions such as arthritis,post surgical pain, post surgical reduction of swelling inflammation andbruising, Osgood Schlater Disease, treatment of organ transplantpatients for the purpose of reducing organ rejection, adhesivecapsilitus, MS, ALS, motor neuron disease, reduction of keloid scaringtreatment of skin graft sites for better vasculasation and better chanceof successful graft improvement of circulation and oxygen saturation incompromised tissue and limbs, limb and digit reattachment for betterchance of successful graft, improvement and normalization ofconductivity in infarcted cardiac tissue, joint inflammation andinjuries, fibromyglia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, neuralgia,peripheral neuropathy, macular degeneration, wounds and sclerdemia.However, a library of tissue profiles and peak resonance codes may beemployed in the system in the development of a separate library ofprofiles and EMR resonance codes for each patient and, also, as abaseline/or electromagnetic structures, of healthy tissue of many types,which might be employed in the generation of an inverse waveform (seediscussion in FIGS. 13-14 below) or treatment purposes. Accordingly, myhistoric library of tissue profiles and peak resonance codes may beintergraded into the stochastic models, as set forth above, to generateappropriate stimuli profiles to enable a sophisticated treatment orcorrection signal. Therein a simple low-order low pass filteringprocess, to eliminate signal ripples, constitutes a starting point.

The next step is typically the generation of the inverse waveform orinverse EMR spectra which is a generation of an opposite magnetic singlepattern from that shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The application of thisinverse pattern, has a pulse width modulation (PWM) process imposed upona “sick” signal of the abnormal tissue is shown in FIG. 13. Thereby thesystem generates and applies to such tissue, a waveform of EMR peakspectra substantially inverse to that of out-of-phase resonances of saidtissue signal to thereby increase or nullify EMR peaks of the signalassociated with abnormalities. See FIG. 14.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinstant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may beembodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described andthat, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the formand arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideasor principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appendedherewith.

I claim:
 1. A patient treatment unit for analyzing and treatingabnormality of human or animal tissues, comprising: a display; a pulsegenerator circuit that outputs a sequence of direct current electricalpulses at a pulse frequency, the direct current electrical pulses havinga pulse width, the pulse generator controlling the pulse frequency andthe pulse width of the direct current electrical pulses, where the pulsefrequency is in a range of about 135 Hz to about 30 kHz; a pair ofseparate probes for contacting a body of a patient and electricallycoupled to the pulse generator such that the direct current electricalpulses are delivered relative to the probes in response to being incontact with the body of the patient, each of the probes being coupledto the pulse generator circuit by a respective wire; and a voltage andcurrent sensing circuit that senses a voltage or a current via theprobes when contacting the body of the patient.
 2. The patient treatmentunit of claim 1, further comprising a circuit for detecting anovervoltage or an overcurrent in the electrical pulses.
 3. The patienttreatment unit of claim 1, wherein the electrical pulses aresubstantially rectangular pulses when the probes have a substantiallyopen circuit between them.
 4. The patient treatment unit of claim 1,wherein the pulse width is not less than 0.34 milliseconds and is notgreater than 0.74 milliseconds.
 5. The patient treatment unit of claim1, wherein a peak voltage of the electrical pulses across the probeswhen a 500 ohm resistance is present across the probes does not exceedabout 4 volts.
 6. The patient treatment unit of claim 1, wherein a peakvoltage of the electrical pulses across the probes when a 5 kilo-ohmresistance is present across the probes does not exceed about 30 volts.7. The patient treatment unit of claim 1, wherein a peak voltage of theelectrical pulses across the probes when a 10 kilo-ohm resistance ispresent across the probes does not exceed about 40 volts.
 8. The patienttreatment unit of claim 1, wherein one of the probes includes apotentiometer for adjusting a characteristic of the electrical pulses.9. The patient treatment unit of claim 1, wherein the maximum currentoutput of the pulse generator circuit is not greater than 8.9 milliamps.10. The patient treatment unit of claim 1, wherein the maximum charge ofelectrical pulse does not exceed 7 micro-coulombs.
 11. The patienttreatment unit of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator circuit includescurrent and voltage limiting means.
 12. The patient treatment unit ofclaim 1, further comprising a microcontroller for controlling thedisplay.
 13. The patient treatment unit of claim 1, wherein the pulsesare pulse width modulated.
 14. A patient treatment unit for analyzingand treating abnormality of human or animal tissues, comprising: adisplay controlled by a microcontroller; a pulse generator circuitincluding current and voltage limiting means, the pulse generatorcircuit outputting a sequence of direct current electrical pulses at apulse frequency, the direct current electrical pulses having a pulsewidth, the pulse generator controlling the pulse frequency and the pulsewidth of the electrical pulses, wherein the maximum current output ofthe pulse generator circuit is not greater than 8.9 milliamps, whereinthe maximum charge of electrical pulse does not exceed 7 micro-coulombs,and wherein the pulse frequency is in a range of about 135 Hz to about30 kHz; a pair of separate probes for contacting a body of a patient andelectrically coupled to the pulse generator by respective wires, whereinthe direct current electrical pulses are substantially rectangularpulses when the probes have a substantially open circuit between them,wherein one of the probes includes a potentiometer for adjusting acharacteristic of the electrical pulses; a voltage and current sensingcircuit that senses a voltage or a current via the probes whencontacting the body of the patient, wherein a peak voltage of the directcurrent electrical pulses across the probes when a 500 ohm resistance ispresent across the probes does not exceed about 4 volts; and a circuitfor detecting an overvoltage or an overcurrent in the direct currentelectrical pulses.
 15. The patient treatment unit of claim 14, wherein apeak voltage of the electrical pulses across the probes when a 5kilo-ohm resistance is present across the probes does not exceed about30 volts, and wherein a peak voltage of the electrical pulses across theprobes when a 10 kilo-ohm resistance is present across the probes doesnot exceed about 40 volts.
 16. The patient treatment unit of claim 14,wherein the characteristic is the pulse frequency.
 17. The patienttreatment unit of claim 14, wherein a peak voltage of the electricalpulses across the probes when a 5 kilo-ohm resistance is present acrossthe probes does not exceed about 30 volts, and wherein a peak voltage ofthe electrical pulses across the probes when a 10 kilo-ohm resistance ispresent across the probes does not exceed about 40 volts, and whereinthe characteristic is the pulse frequency.
 18. The patient treatmentunit of claim 14, wherein the direct current electrical pulses are pulsewidth modulated.
 19. A patient treatment unit for analyzing and treatingabnormality of human or animal tissues, comprising: a display; amicrocontroller for controlling the display; a pulse generator circuitthat outputs a sequence of direct current electrical pulses at a pulsefrequency, the direct current electrical pulses having a pulse width,the pulse generator controlling the pulse frequency and the pulse widthof the direct current electrical pulses, wherein the pulse generatorcircuit includes current and voltage limiting means, and wherein thepulse frequency is in a range of about 135 Hz to about 30 kHz; a pair ofseparate probes for contacting a body of a patient and electricallycoupled to the pulse generator by respective wires; a circuit fordetecting an overvoltage or an overcurrent in the direct currentelectrical pulses; and a voltage and current sensing circuit that sensesa voltage or a current via the probes when contacting the body of thepatient, wherein one of the probes includes a potentiometer foradjusting the pulse frequency of the direct current electrical pulses,wherein the maximum current output of the pulse generator circuit is notgreater than 8.9 milliamps.
 20. The patient treatment unit of claim 19,wherein the direct current electrical pulses are pulse width modulated.